Railway vehicle



Sptt. l?, W3. D. s. BARROWS RAILWAY VEHICLE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed DeC. 2l, 1951 SEIN., l?, 3935,. D 5 BARRQWS Y RAILWAY VEHICLE y Filed Dec. 2l, 1931 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT4 OFFICE RAILWAY VEHICLE Application December 21, 1931, Serial No. 582,473

. 10 Claims.

This invention relates to railway vehicles and, more particularly, to such having laterally movable bolsters.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a railway vehicle including side frames, a bolster, and resilient means operatively interposed between the bolster and the frames, and adapted to rock with respect to both to allow for lateral movement of the bolster.

Another object of my invention is the provision of railway vehicles each of which comprises a pair of side frames, a bolster extending therebetween, and springs, preferably of the elliptic type, operatively interposed between the bolster and said side "iframes, said springs being so mounted that they are rockable on the frames and bolster to provide for lateral movement of the bolster.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claimszl Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway vehicle or truck embodying my invention. l

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows, the springs and portions of the bolster being shown in elevation.

Figures 3 and 4 are views each corresponding to Figure 2, but showing another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the Idrawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment ofV my invention illustrated in Figures l and 2, a railway vehicle or car truck I is illustrated comprising `side frames 2, only one of which is shown, each of said frames comprising a compression member 3, a tension member 4, and bolster guide columns 5 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members, leaving a window or bolster opening Ii` therebetween. Y

Supportedl o n the tension member beneath the window opening isa spring plank l, said plank, in the present embodiment, being downwardly embossed, as indicated at 8, to t a corresponding depression 9 in the top ofthe tension member 4, whereby sai-d spring plank and frame are properly interlocked. Resting on each end portion of the spring plank, preferably at ,the embossed portion 8 thereof, is spring means IIl, which, in the present embodiment, involves Va (Cl. V--187) plurality of elliptic spring each comprising spring plates II held by intermediate bands I2 and end clips or connectors I3.

'Ihe lower bands I2 of the spring means I0 desirably have their lower surfaces curved, as indi- 5 cated at I4, and are provided with depending teeth I5, the associated spring plank being apertured or pocketed, as indicated at I 6, to receive the spring teeth I5, whereby the bands I2 are interlocked with respect to the spring plank and frame, and 10 thereby prevented from bodily shifting with respect to said frame, while allowed to roll or rock thereon.

The upper spring band I2 of each spring I0 is desirably formed with an upper surface II of a curvature corresponding with that of the curvature I4 of the bottom spring band, said curvature, however, being opposite to that of the curvature II Vso that the portion inwardly or disposed toward the center of the bolster lies on a curve corresponding with the portion outwardly or disposed toward the outer ends of the springs on the lower spring band I2, the lower spring band being preferably unsymmetrical and provided with an outward extension Il! carrying the outer curved 25 surface I4 and the upper spring band I2 being provided with an inner extension I9 carrying the inner portion of the curved surface I1.

The curved surfaces I1 of the upper spring bands I2 engage corresponding lower surfaces 20 30 on the bolster 2|, said surfaces preferably being indented or disposed between shoulders 22 on the bolster, whereby bodily shifting of the bolster with respect to the upper spring bands I2 is prevented while rolling or rocking therebetween is provided 35 for, the engagement of the bolster with the upper spring band I2 serving for the support of the bolster, while allowing lateral movement thereof. Each end of the bolster 2| is desirably provided with guiding ribs or flanges 23 disposed inwardly 40 and outwardly of the guiding columns 5 and spaced therefrom an amount suflicient to allow for the desired lateral movement of the bolster, and at the same time prevent lateral movement beyond a predetermined desired amount.

The curvature of the surface I4 on the lower spring band I2 and that'of the surface II on the upper spring band I2 is, in the present embodiment, such that a particular end of the bolster is raised when it moves outwardly with re,- spect to the associated side frame, while no vertical movement takes place when it moves inwardly with respect to said side frame. This is provided by having the outer portion of the surface I'I and the inner portion of the surface I4 55 normally concentric with one another and having the curvature of the remainder of said surfaces of greater radius so that relative lateral movement of the bolster from normal on said surfaces of greater radius results in raising the bolster, as will be understood.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 3, a construction is there.

disclosed which is identical with thatv of Figure 2,.

except that the bolster 2|8L is shown in extreme outer position with respect to the associated spring plank 'Ia and frame (not shown), and the spring means llla has bands I2 with theY upper surface lle of the upper band I2at and the. lower surface Nia of the lower band |122 cur-ved uniformly so that the bolster 2la is raised an equal amount upon moving laterally from normal in either direction. Such a condltionis provided for by having the curvature of the surfaces onla radius greater than half the normal distance betweensaid surfaces. On account ofi the relatively small radius of curvaturefin the present embodiment, the spring bands l2 are not provided-'with extensions, as in the'rst embodiment, the lower spring band, however, being desirably.' provided with a tooth 451 interlocking with respect to anV aperture or pocket Nif*v in the associatedI spring plank le, as in the previous embodiment, the upper spring band l2- being desirably received in a pocket between shoulders 221. on` the' bol-- ster 2 la.

Referring now to the embodimentoff my'invention illustrated in Figure 4, a construction is there disclosed corresponding with thel embodiment of Figure 2, except that the bolster 2lb is shown in the eXtreme innermost position with respect to the associated spring plank lJ and sideframe (not shown), and the curvature- Mb on the lower spring band I2b, as well as the curvature i'lb on the upper spring band |21* of thel spring means ib, corresponds with the curva-V tures Ill and |11 of the first embodiment', except that all portions of thecurvedfsurfaces have radii greater than half the normar distance between said surfaces, the curvature of the outer portionv of the upper surfacel l-'lh'fandithe curvatureI of the inner portion ofthe lower surface- I4b being on radii preferably equa-l and shorter'thanthe radius of curvature of the remainder'ofithe'surfaces, so that although therinwardly moving end" of the bolster raises to a slight extent, it is not raised as much as the outwardly moving end thereof. This provision for raising ofthe bolsterV upon relative movement thereof with respect to the side frames is in order to makeV thebolster self-centering and provide for the return thereofV to normal position, it being noted that. all three embodiments disclosed provide this, self-centering feature.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I have provided springs preferably of the elliptictypeserving for supporting'a-bolster from associated side frames and adapted to rock with respect to said side frames, so that the bolster is allowed to move laterally a predeterminedY limited amount. It will be seen that theY spring means employed for supporting the bolster per.- form the double function oi lateralmotionrockers and springs, andas the bolster moves laterally one way or the other, the springs-tilt to one side or the other until the motion is checked by the bolster ilanges 23Y which st-raddle thev guide columnsof the side frames.`

Although preferred embodimentstof my invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and that the terms which I have employed are used for purposes of description and not of limitation.

I claimtl. Bolster spring means comprising a plurality ofl resilient plates and upper and lower bands connecting said plates and forming an elliptic spring, the upper surface of the upper band and ther-lower surface of the lower band being curved to respectively allow a supported bolster to roll thereon and to roll with respect to an associated ide frame, the curvature of the band surfaces varying. onY opposite sides of the center of said 1 spring so` that said bolster is raised when rolled in one direction a predetermined amount above the elevation at which it stands when rolled in the other direction a similar amount.

2. A railway vehicle comprising side frames, 2 each frame having a compression member, a tension member andv guide columns defining a bolster opening, a. bolster with its ends received in saidA` openings, a spring plank disposed below said bolster and with its ends received in said openings, the upper surfaces of the side frame tension members beneath the bolster openings having upwardly'opening pockets, said spring plank having downwardly embossed portions nesting in said pockets for interlocking with respect to said 3 frames, springs for yieldingly supporting said bolster, and a plurality of rockers also functioning as spring bands respectively interposed between the bolster and the springs and said spring plank and springs, the lower rockers engaging 3 said spring plank at the downwardly embossed portions thereof.

3. A railway vehicle comprising side frames, each frame including a compression member, a

tension member, guide columns defining a bol- 40' ster opening, a bolster with its ends received in said openings, a spring plank disposed below said bolster and with its ends received in said openings, the upper surfaces of said side frame tension members beneath the bolster openings 4 having upwardly opening pockets and the spring plank being formed with downwardly extending portions nesting in said pockets to normally prevent disengagement between said spring plank and frames, springs disposed in said bol- 5 ster openings for yieldingly supporting said bolster above said plank, a plurality of rockers performing the additional function of spring bands respectively interposed between the bolster and the springs and said spring plank and springs, and means for preventing bodily shifting of the lower rockers along said spring plank,

`ll. A railway vehicle comprising side frames, each frame being formed with a bolster opening, a bolster with its ends received in said openings, 6 alspring plank disposed below said bolster and with its ends received in said bolster openings, andspring means disposed in said openings for supporting said bolster above said plank, said spring means at each end comprising a plurality of resilient plates and upper and lower bands connecting said plates and forming an elliptic spring, the upper surface of the upper band and the lower surface of the lower band being curved 7 to respectively allow the bolster to roll thereon and to roll on said spring plank, said bolster being. pocketed to receive a portion of the upper band and the spring plank pocketed to receive a.' portionl of the lower band, whereby bodily shift- 75 ing of said elliptic springs with respect to said bolster and spring plank is prevented.

5. In combination with a railway vehicle side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and guide columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster with an end received in said opening, a spring plank with an end disposed beneath said bolster and received in said opening, the tension member beneath the bolster opening having an upwardly opening pocket, said spring plank having a downwardly embossed portion nesting in said pocket for interlocking with respect to said frame, a spring for yieldingly supporting said bolster, and upper and lower rockers for said spring and respectively interposed between the bolster and said spring and said spring plank and spring, the lower rocker engaging said spring plank at the downwardly embossed portion thereof.

6. In combination with a railway vehicle side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and guide columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster with an end received in said opening, a spring plank with an end disposed beneath said bolster and received in said opening, the tension member beneath the bolster opening having an upwardly opening pocket, said spring plank having a downwardly embossed portion nesting in said pocket for interlocking with respect to said fra-me, a spring for yieldingly supporting said bolster, and a plurality of rockers for said spring and respectively interposed between the bolster and said spring and said spring plank and spring, the curvature of the rocking surfaces varying on opposite sides of the center of the spring so that said bolster is raised when rolled in one direction a predetermined amount above the elevation at which it stands when rolled in the other direction a similar amount, the lower rocker engaging said spring plank at the downwardly embossed portion thereof.

'7. In combination with a railway vehicle side frame formed with a bolster opening, a bolster with an end received in said opening, a spring plank disposed beneath said bolster and with an end received in said opening, and spring means disposed in said opening for supporting said bolster above said plank, said spring means comprising a plurality of resilient plates and upper and lower bands connecting said plates and forming an elliptic spring, the upper surface of the upper band and the lower surface of the lower band being curved to respectively allow the bolster to roll thereon and to roll on said plank, the radii of curvature of said rolling band surfaces being greater than half the normal distance between said surfaces, so that theV bolster end is raised when rolled in either direction from its normal position, said bolster being formed to receive a portion of the upper band and the spring plank being formed to receive a portion of the lower band.

8. In combination with a railway vehicle side frame having a, compression member, a tension 5 member, and guide columns deiining a bolster V opening, a bolster with an end received in said opening, a spring plank with an end disposed beneath said bolster and received in said opening, the tension member beneath the bolster opening having an upwardly opening pocket, said spring plank having a downwardly embossed portion nesting in said pocket for interlocking with respect to said frame, a spring for yieldingly supporting said bolster, and a plurality of rockers for said spring and respectively interposed between the bolster and said spring and said spring plank and spring, the radii of curvature of the rocking surfaces being greater than half the normal distance between said surfaces, so that the bolster end is raised when rolled in either direction from its normal position, the lower rocker engaging said spring plank at the downwardly embossed portion thereof.

9. In combination with a railway vehicle side frame formed with a bolster opening, a, bolster with an end received in said opening, a spring plank disposed beneath said bolster and with an end received in said opening, and spring means disposed in said opening for supporting said bolster above said plank, said spring means comprising a plurality of resilient plates and upper and lower bands connecting said plates and forming an elliptic spring, the upper surface of the upper band and the lower surface of the lower band being curved to respectively allow the bolster to roll thereon and to roll on said plank, the curvature of the rolling band surfaces varying on opposite sides of the center of the spring so that said bolster is raised when rolled in one direction a predetermined amount aboveV the elevation at which it stands when rolled in the other direction a similar amount, said bolster being formed to receive a portion of the upper band and the spring plank being formed to receive a portion of the lower band.

V10. Bolster spring means comprising a plurality of resilient plates and upper and lower bands connecting said plates and forming an elliptic spring, the upper surface of the upper band and the lower surface of the lower band being curved to respectively allow a supported bolster to roll thereon and to roll with respect to an associated side frame, the radii of curvature of the band surfaces being greater than half the normal distance between said surfaces so that said bolster is raised when rolled in either direction from its normal position.

DONALD S. BARR/OWS. 

